By Mike Seccombe, originally published in the Saturday Paper 29th August 2020. “Kevin Andrews under pressure to quit over branch stacking allegations”. It’s a headline that could have appeared this week on a story about the Christian right’s efforts to seize power within the Victorian branch of the Liberal Party, except it didn’t. It actually… Read More

Interview with Geoffrey Watson SC by Rafael Epstein, ABC Radio Melbourne Drive. Monday 24th August 2020. Link here

By Anthony Whealy, originally published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 7th August 2020. In the midst of a dangerous pandemic we are beset by concerns for our health and the welfare of our families. In this environment it has been easy to lose focus on other issues that in normal times might concern us… Read More

By Andrew Probyn, originally broadcast on 7.30 Report on 22nd July 2020. ANDREW PROBYN, POLITICAL EDITOR: Torquay, on Victoria’s rugged coast, has seen many a ding-dong battle. (Vision of a surfing competition at Bells Beach) Bells Beach, not far from Torquay, has some of the world’s most challenging surf – a fact celebrated in celluloid.… Read More

By Katie Burgess, originally published in the Canberra Times 10 July 2020. Transparency advocates have raised fears about the growing concentration of ministerial power during the coronavirus pandemic, with large amounts of money being spent in a short period of time with little oversight or accountability. Full article here.

By Rob Harris, originally published in the Sydney Morning Herald 6th July 2020. Federal Parliament could be able to sit virtually by the time it returns in August, with detailed planning under way to allow MPs and senators to speak and vote in both chambers without physically being in Canberra. Parliamentary officials have been working… Read More

Opinion piece by Stephen Charles, originally published in the Guardian 19th June 2020. The government’s proposed commonwealth integrity commission will be ‘the weakest and most ineffective such body in this country’ This week’s allegations of systemic branch-stacking and misuse of public money again show the urgent need for stronger anti-corruption measures – not only in… Read More

By David Crowe, originally published in SMH on 17 June 2020. A crossbench coalition will try to stop a looming change to electoral law out of concern it could blur the lines between state and federal donations and skirt new controls on who can bankroll the major political parties. The move aims to force a… Read More